KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Eight militants including a key Taliban commander Mullah Tor Naqibullah were killed and nine others injured as fighting aircrafts pounded Taliban hideout in Shah Walikot district in the southern Kandahar province on Sunday, an army statement said.

"Acting on tip off the fighting aircrafts struck a hideout of Taliban rebels in Wach Baghto area of Shah Walikot district early today morning, killing eight armed insurgents including notorious commander Mullah Tor Naqibullah and seven of his armed fighters on the spot and injured nine others including a group commander Mustari Zubair," the statement said here.

Taliban militants who have intensified activities and launched brazen attacks against an army base in the neighboring Helmand province on Friday, haven't commented.